It’s time to get excited because onion sets will be arriving soon! If you’re looking to grow some delicious onions, here’s what you need to do when planting onion sets. Remember to stop by New Braunfels Feed and pick up your onion sets!

First off, make sure your soil is in top shape. Work it to a depth of 8-10 inches, ensuring good drainage and plenty of sunlight. Sprinkle around 2 pounds of fertilizer (either 10-10-10 or 10-20-10) over a 100-square-foot area, and mix it into the top 3-4 inches of soil.

Now comes the fun part – planting! Select the best-developed plants and plant them about 3/4 to 1 inch deep, with 2 to 3 inches of space between each plant.

Here’s a pro tip: onions crave nitrogen. To keep them happy, apply a nitrogen-based fertilizer like ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate at a rate of one cup per twenty feet of row. Start with the first application approximately three weeks after planting, and continue applying every 2 to 3 weeks. Once the neck of the onion starts feeling soft, it’s time to stop fertilizing. This usually happens about 4 weeks before harvest. Don’t forget to water immediately after feeding and keep the soil moist throughout the growing season.

Now, let’s tackle those pesky weeds. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide like DACTHAL before planting to control weed growth for approximately one month. During the growing season, products like GOAL and BUCTRIL can help with weed control. Always remember to follow the instructions on the label! If you’re an organic gardener, incorporate a rich compost high in nitrogen into the soil, as there are no organic products available for weed control. In this case, your best bet is to cultivate carefully, making sure not to damage the onion bulb. As the onion starts to bulb, keep the soil around it loose so the onion can expand. Avoid piling dirt on top of the onion, as it will prevent the natural bulb formation. So, start your cultivation practices early on!

When harvest time rolls around (typically in May and June), be sure to pull the onions out of the ground. Let them lay in the row for 1-3 days to dry. Once dried, trim the tops and roots, and store them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to use them.

Happy growing, and enjoy your homegrown onions!